Back

Well I'm back from a shorty break at Buddleigh Salterton. It was a useful break even if it seemed to rain continuously and was sufficiently cold that we shortened our stay by one night.

Whilst away I was somewhat amazed at the media frenzt around Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand. Sure they allowed themselves to overstep the mark of good conduct. Andrew Sachs has every reason to be annoyed with them but the whole affair seems to have been taken out of proportion. I am sure that some of the media have a clear agenda against the BBC - Rupert Murdoch 's papers for a start as anything that damages the BBC is good news for Murdoch's B Sky B and well the Daily Mail seems to spend much of its time longing to go forwards into the past. Of course apologies should have been offered publicly andlessons re editorial control learned. But now we are in a witch hunt atmosphere like that after Hutton as a result of misplaced though probably not malicious humour gone badly wrong.

I think that it was totally wrong for Brand to reveal in this particularly painful way for the grandfather that he had had sex with a singer from the Satanic Sluts. I despise kiss and tell. But wait! Is not that the staple diet of the very tabloids that have been most vociferous in their condemnation of Brand and Ross? Indeed the young lady herself revealed her low opinion of Brand's bedroom performance in the SUN. Aaagh yes there is a whiff of pyocrisy here. And was it not shallow that political leaders needed to get involved almost making me hark back to Tony Blair's support for the release of a fictional character in Coronation Street some years ago.

Indeed the serious point is that we have allowed trivia to dominate the news agenda at a time when recession threatens jobs and death stalks the land of Congo. Shame on us for being so wretchedly celebrity and trivia obsessed!

On another matter just before leaving holiday I slipped on the wet grass and damaged further the shoulder which I had hurt a few weeks ago. At present I am not driving but I am grateful for painkillers which are helping at least some of the time. Thankfully I have more physiotherapy in a few days. I still am struggling with depression and last night I had an anxiety attack in the night. I have come to the conclusion that I need to accept that this is part of my life and to try and live with it as best I can.

Anyhow it is back to work and tomorrow will be dominated by a wedding and watching the mighty Bideford kick ass in the Western League - on which subject wan't it quite a match on Thursday between Arsenal and Tottenham. Watched it in a bar and felt that I kicked every ball in the second half - and I don't even support either team!

Bible in one minute

If only I'd seen that video I could have got out of all that study - not that I did much!


HAT TIP: David Keen

Half term

Well just as I've finally got back into blogging it is time for another break. the last few weeks have been difficult. Just as I thought I was winning the battle with depression there came my father's final illness and death. This undid much of the progress made during our Summer holiday. So we're off on Monday down to Exmouth. We return on Friday and blogging will resume.

Other postings may take place before I leave but there again they may not.

The challenge of love - A sermon for Pentecost 25

MATTHEW 22: 34 - 40

"The law is an ass!"

Now don't get too excited. Although there are times when I agree with those words they are not mine, at least not in the first place. In fact they belong to that wonderful creation of Charles Dickens, the Mr Bumble imoortalised later by Harry Secombe in "Oliver Twist."

And indeed leaving aside any controversies over recent legislation, there remain on our statutes, ancient pieces of legislation that would cause even the mildest mannered of you to join with John McEnroe in a cry of, "You cannot be serious!"

John Owens, firm of solicitors based in Denbeighsire in Wales, list some of these beauties on their website. They include

- it being treasonous to place a postage stamp bearing the queen's head upside down

- it being illegal for ladies to eat chocolates on public transport

- it being an offence to eat mince pies on Christmas Day

- it being a serious crime to die in the Houses of Parliament even though some debates can rob one of the will to live

- and it being legal to shoot a Welsh person within the city walls of Chester as long as it's with a bow and arrow.

And of course there is my favourite law which is sadly missing from that website, namely that all males over the age of 14 years old are required to carry out 2 hours of longbow practice every week under the supervision of the local clergy.

Now you might wonder why the bounders of Westminster are not called back a few days early after one of their recesses to get rid of such laws. On that I could not possibly comment but you will be pleased to know that none of the legislation I have mentioned is enforced today which doubtless is good news for Welsh people who need to visit Chester from time to time. Why are they not enforced? Because we know that such laws could only undermine respect for the rule of law and indeed in many cases subsequent laws superced or even contradict those which I have named.

The people of Jesus also had amongst the Law that had been given them some which are questionable today if not in the time of Jesus. These include

- a prohibition of the wearing of clothes two kinds of material

- a requirement to wear tassels on the four corners of the cloak that one wears

- an instruction that women should not wear men's clothing and equally that men whould not wear womens' clothing ( so by bye trousers for women and farewell pantomime dames)

- a bar on eating the meat of pigs so take that all you who love a pork chop, ham or pork sausages

- and a No to products that contain blood which is certainly bad news to lovers of black pudding among whom I count myself.

And just as with archaic laws of the land we tend to adopt a policy of ignoring such Old Testament laws as these. They do not fit in with our society we say. Surely they are best left in the past.

And for what it is worth I think we have a good case here. But before we happily dispose of those scriptures which are not to our liking, I think that there is a question we need to face up to - what is the purpose of the Law that was given to Israel? What is its DNA, it essential purpose? And that is why a common question not just at the time of Jesus but even before that time was what was the essential message of the Law? Was there a law which had precedence over the rest, a law which could as it were sum the whole complicated collection of laws up?

So in our scripture reading a Pharisee, one of those who took the law particularly seriously, asked Jesus which of the 613 laws in the Torah was the most important. In reply Jesus doesn't do away with the Law but gives a two part reply. The first part looked back to Deuteronomy and speaks of love for God;

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

No surprise here at all! After all this was a part of the Shema which even today is prayed morning and night by observant Jews, often being the first prayer that Jewish children learn. Here is the response to God's goodness expressed in a love with all one's being. All one's efforts are turned to God in a love which longs to make uphold the value and wonder of God.

But there's a second part to Jesus' answer. This time looking back to Leviticus, Jesus recites;

"Love your neighbour as yourself."

And just as the Old Testament has much to say about responsibility to foreigners, Jesus in Luke's gospel links this agape love that seeks the best for others, to those who are different from his own people in the parable of the Good Samaritan. For the Biblical understanding of love is not something that we can put up barriers around but it is that which is inclusive of even those whom we are culturally and religiously different from. For the Christian is called to will good to all and to be the enemy of none.

But to me the wonder of Jesus answer is how we links together three objects of love - God , the diversity of humankind and ourselves. All are to be loved says Jesus. And the roots of this are to be found in being called as people of the God who is the creator of love and whose love knows no limits. But that same God is the lover of all people even those whom we find it hardest to love and that same God is the one who loves us. Now says Jesus we are drawn into a circle of love in which we can but will good to God and all who are the products of God's creation.

And yes, that love does indeed change everything. Through that love we see the value in all beings. All is of worth because all is of worth to God. No person is disposable for each is the child of the God whose love is unceasing.

And ultimately the challenge to each of us who wishes to be followers of Jesus is how do we follow and reflect our Lord in a way that brings honour to our Lord and how do we reflect the divine love to all in a world that is ften gripped by fear towards all that is different from us. For make no mistake love is the supreme rule of our faith. It is our essential DNA. And where we come to conclusions that deny love and the God given value of others, our understanding of Bible and God are clearly wrong. For love is no option. It is the way - a love that is directed beyond us to God cannot fail to be directed at all creatures.

Victory for McCain/Palin - Rev Richard Hall blamed by a shocked world!

And I say if only Richard Hall had got his sorry arse out of bed to vote! Shame on you Richard!

Jesus as President on November 4th - no way!

HAT TIP: Opinionated Old Fart

Cameron forgets global warming for drinky poos with Rupert.

Silly me! I though the new ever so green Conservative Party were suggesting we change our habits in the face of global warmng. Well they may want you and me to change our habits but it is a different matter when their leader, David Cameron gets the summons to drinks with smear mechant Rupert Murdoch.

But then again our political leaders are only to quick to drop anything for their master. Strangely it seems he was in Corfu at the same time as those working class heroes, sessrs Depriska, Osborne and Mandleson. More and more I think we see the two political parties as two cheeks of the same bum - all nicely controlled by Mr Murdoch!

Get breeding says Baptist pastor

This is a truly amazing sermon on God killing Onan for masterbation and demanding that we abandon all birth control.



I sat amazed watching it. I do not recognise the murdering God portrayed nor do I believe that God is opposed to birth control which enables us to plan our families according to our circumstances. Still Pastor Anderson would suggest that you and I try to make babies tonight in order to defeat the devil. What a pity that all I want is sleep tonight!

By the way readers may remember this gem by Pastor Anderson re need to "pisseth against the wall." Sometimes I despair!

Sex education rather than kama sutra in schools says Methodist Church

The Methodist Church has welcomed the Government’s decision to make education in schools about sex and relationships compulsory for children of all ages.

MP Jim Knight, Minister for Schools, was met with loud applause from delegates when he made the announcement at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster today.

Sandy Youngson, a drugs and sexual health trainer and Methodist Church representative who sat on the review board that advised the government, said he was delighted at the decision. ‘I think this is a positive and exciting move,’ he said. ‘It puts the importance of relationships and sexual health education into a framework that can be supported and managed. It gives teachers clarity about what they teach in schools and assurance to parents that what is being taught is age appropriate.’

The change in the law will mean that all school children aged five to 16 will receive personal, social and health education covering drug and alcohol misuse, healthy living, sex and emotional education. It is hoped that the new curriculum will be ready by September 2010.

Sandy said: ‘We are not talking about teaching six and seven-year-olds the Kama Sutra. The Methodist Church wants to support young people to develop as a whole. We live in an increasingly sexualized society. We are not trying to encourage that, but prepare young people for that reality, prepare them for the wonderful side of relationships and reduce risks.

‘Just talking about sex does not increase the chances of somebody doing it; in fact, it is the opposite. There is evidence that good quality education about sex and relationships, covering a wide range of topics, in fact delays a young person’s first sexual encounter. At some point in most people’s lives they will become sexually active, and preparing them for it on the basis of having a good understanding of relationships is a good way of supporting young people.’

Graham Russell, chief executive of Methodist Schools, said: ‘It is necessary to prepare young people to confront the problems they will encounter in the modern world: ignorance will provide no defence at all.’


COMMENT: This seems to be a sensible proposal. I am glad to hear from Sandy Youngson that 6 and 7 year olds are not to be taught the kama sutra. But I would like to know where the kama sutra lessons are being held for forty something Methodist ministers


Thanks to Methodist Church website.

Richard Dawkins - greatest evangelist of 21st century!

· Dawkins thanked for encouraging a ‘continued interest in God’

The British Methodist Church has welcomed news that Professor Richard Dawkins is to fund an advertising campaign on London buses despite its slogan ‘There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’.

Revd Jenny Ellis, Spirituality and Discipleship Officer, said; ‘We are grateful to Richard for his continued interest in God and for encouraging people to think about these issues. This campaign will be a good thing if it gets people to engage with the deepest questions of life.’

Responding to Dawkins’ comment that ‘thinking is anathema to religion’, Jenny said; ‘As Christians, we respond to Jesus’ call to love God with our minds as well as our hearts, souls and strength. Christianity is for people who aren’t afraid to think about life and meaning. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism believed that no one should be saved from the trouble of thinking, because that is the path to understanding God.’


Comment: I think that the Christian Church is deeply indebted to Richard Dawkins for his latest valiant attempt to get people talking about the gospel. Frankly I think his initiative is worth 100 Alpha courses!

Thanks to Methodist Church website

Methodist Church tells gambling yobs to pay up

The Methodist Church has welcomed yesterday’s Gambling Commission report and its recommendations. The report underlines the responsibility of the gambling industry to provide enough money to help people who are harmed by gambling.

David Bradwell, Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; ‘There are around a quarter of a million problem gamblers in the UK. We need more money to make sure that these people receive sufficient support and advice and that vulnerable people don’t develop a problem with gambling.

‘We support the ‘polluter pays’ principle. If not enough money is raised through the current voluntary system, we want to see the Government introducing compulsory payments by gambling businesses.

‘In Britain we are way behind other countries, including Canada, South Africa and New Zealand in terms of dealing adequately with problem gambling. The Government and the Gambling Commission must look again at the international context and find out what more can be done in the UK to help people who are at risk of being exploited by gambling.’

COMMENT: I agree that the gambling indutry should pay fo the consequences of their racketeering - and for me that means every penny with steep penalties for any delays. Oh and I'd reward them with the ASBOs they so richly deserve!


Thanks to Methodist Church website

Genetically modified orgasms - I kid you not!

Yes, I have a new hero! Oh and I want one!



HAT TIP: Bob Piper

Away from the greasy pole - A non lectionary sermon for Pentecost 24

MARK 10: 35 - 45

One of my better investments was the dvd entitled "Tuesdays with Morrie" based on Mitch Albom's book by the same name. It tells of a friendship between two men whose roots were in the days when Morrie Schwatz had taught Mitch Albom. Now they revisit the past and explore question of living several years on only with Morrie now living with a terminal illness. On one occasion they recall a basketball match. Mitch and Morrie's university team were doing well and a chant of "We're number one" goes up. That is until Morrie stands and shouts "What's wrong with being number two?"

Morrie's question is received with a shocked silence. Why? Because he has challenged the tradition that we should always seek to top dogs. But in this he is not the first for Jesus has beaten Morrie to this by close on two thousand years.Not long before our scripture reading, Jesus has had to transform how his followers see the world. they have been arguing as to which of them was the greatest. And Jesus has stunned them by suggesting that true greatness lies not in exercising power in a "shock and awe" manner but instead it lies in welcoming the least powerful and those who are lowest in traditional status terms.

But clearly the lesson has clearly not been learnt. Step forwards James and John. There's no beating about the bush with these guys. They want power pure and simple. I don't know whether any of you were like me fans of the TV drama "Yes Minister." I gather it was uncomfortably close to the truth and certainly James and John are not shy in their desire to climb the greasy pole. They desire to be in the sort of positions through which they can dominate others. They want to be right up front where the action is.

And if God is like us, their intention is understandable. Doubtless they see themselves as pretty straight sorts of guys so surely they are the right sort to be endowed with power. They will do the right thing after all. It is as though all that is required is to rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic. But and it is a big but, God is not like that at all. God is not in the business of changing who are the holders of power. God is not even in the business of power Godself like a divine version of that Monty Python big foot. On the contrary, God is in the business of saying No to the power system and the domination that it brings. For God in Christ is to be seen working not through power but through powerlessness. God does not dominate or coerce but seeks to influence through touching us with unconditional, unlimited love.

And where does that leave us? Too often in the church we speak longingly of bygone days when the churches influence was at its greatest. But wait! The days of Christendom when the church was a if not the dominant force in society was precisely when we were at our worst. when we can dominate and force our will on others, when we have the power to exclude, itis precisely at those times when we are furthest from the way of Jesus. It is not simply a statement of political correctness to say that we are at our best precisely when we abandon the search for conformity and embrace diversity. It is simply that at such times we take most seriously the example of Jesus whom seek to both follow and imitate.

Jesus both in his words to James and John and later to the other ten who seem to have been angered at the brothers' preemptive strike for power, makes clear what his path is to be. It is the path that will take him to travel without power to the city of Jerusalem where he will meet the injustice and violence of the powers with the ways of all embracing love and non violence. Through that path, he will bring the world its greatest hope. through that path, he will bring light to the very darkest of places. And countercultural as he might seem to be it is he who will leave an indelible mark on the world that none of the powers could possibly match.

And his example and deeds continue to stir us. In a world in which the ambitions of the money men have wreaked devastation with many lives being broken for the greed of the few, we see hope in a new form of ambition. A new form of ambition that is not based on desire for wealth or status but an ambition that is based on what we put in rather than what we get out. Jesus has embodied that ambition through his selfgiving which lights up our world. He has pointed to that ambition through the vision that true greatness is based on service to others. As in the money markets a malevolent lunacy rules, Jesus calls us to join in his path of service that proclaims a new way of life, a new way of being. And to follow that way is lunacy in the eyes of the culture of the powers of domination. Yet it is the way that leads to true life.

Allegiance only to God - A sermon for Pentecost 23

PSALM 24, MATTHEW 22: 15.22

"Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and give to God the things that are God's."

Words that have resounded down the years. Words that are often used to endorse a form of state religion which sees loyalty to God as inextricably linked to loyalty to the state. Jesus is made safe. Or is he?

Our scripture has its setting in an unholy alliance. This alliance consists of Pharisees who would have been critical of Rome and Herodians who were the aristocratic collaborators with Rome. Together they collude to challenge Jesus as to whether taxes should be paid to occupying Rome. In a way they had created a situation in which to trap Jesus. If he said that taxes should not be paid, he would be seen as a rebel against Rome to bear all the terrifying consequences that being a rebel entailed. If on the other hand he said taxes should be paid, he faced a significant loss of public support from many of those who had followed him not least those whose backgrounds were in the nationalistic movements that bravely if foolishly confronted Rome.

The response of Jesus can be seen a clever and quick footed. He asks for a coin. And there in the grounds of the Temple, his questioners produce a Roman coin - a Roman coin with the image of the emperor and the inscription claiming his lordship in the grounds of the very temple where such currency had to be changed for the purchase of sacrificial offerings. He asks them whose head is on the coin and sheepishly they have to concede that it is the emperor's head that is on the coin. Imagine the "oohs" of an audience that sees the inconsistency that has been exposed.

But Jesus doesn't leave it at that. Now he moves on to tell them that they are to;;

"Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and give to God the things that are God's."

Game, set and match as the Wimbledon umpire might say as the smart arse inquisitors slink away.

And yet, we need to pause and think of the significance of these words. For they have too often been misinterpreted. Too often, from the pulpit they have been used to talk about areas of responsibility to the state and separate areas of responsibility to God. As if they can be neatly split up. And here lies a great danger. For this was precisely the approach of those who in Nazi Germany continued to advocate obedience towards that most eveil of regimes. And in the years that have past since the mistake has all too often been repeated with terrible results.

What I think that Jesus is saying is to by all means let the emperor have his coin but what really matters is letting God have that which is due to God. And what is due to God? Well the Pharisees at least ought to have known for in Psalm 24 there is that thunderous stament as to what belongs to God:

"The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it."

Well that's pretty clear isn't it. The world and all within it is God's. And before that ownership the rights of emperors and states are but insignificant. Our national flags, our pet causes, our notions of respectability are not worth a fig when they compete for claims to be lord in our lives against God. That was one of the insights for which we are indebted to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Confessing Church in Germany. We have our Lord and the position is not available to any others. The post is well and truly filled.

What we encounter in this scripture is that God is God of all our lives. Forgive me for lowering the tone of this sermon and mentioning rags such as the Mail and Express which pollute the name of Christ by claiming to be upholding Christian civilisation by Muslim baiting. Some time ago, the Mail was shocked that some Muslims put their faith ahead of British loyalty. I wasn't. Why? Because whilst I believe that we can often get our understandings of God in a frightful mess, I agree with those who put their faith before their nation. Were it not so, to maintain any consistency, I would need to remove the scripture we have just heard from by Bible. Yes, as the Psalmist reminded us, the earth is the Lord's and to put other loyalties above that would be an abandonment of faith.

So what we find from this scripture is that God must be our supreme loyalty and if in society that makes us dissenters, well at least we shall be travelling the path that Jesus himself trod.

Next month 23 year old Tasmin Osmond who hopes to one day be an Angican priest faces the prospect of a none year jail sentence under (wait for it) anti terror legislation for her part in non violent protests concerning the poor stewardship of God's world that has exacerbated the process of global warming. I for one salute her.

Last months Martin Newell a Catholic priest was jailed for inscribing in protest at preemptive war the words, "War shall cease" and "We all have blood on our hands" at the military headquarters in Norwood. I for one salute him.

And I salute those who speak and act non violently against the sale of weapons, something at which we lead the world, the poor conditions of our prisons and the development of a penal code rooted in the notion of shame that Jesus spoke and acted against in his ministry. And the list could go on to embrace action against the alcohol and hambling industries, the toeration of poor housing and infinitem!

Our loyalty must be to God who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. Any loyalty that competes for our allegiance is but idolatry. So be gone safe religion that fears to offend the powers or even public opinion. Welcome religion that accepts only the authority of our liberating God. And if that tuns us into dissidents, let's get unpopular! It's an underrated experience. And be sure if it is with God, then it sure is better than the alternative!

Sermon by Jonathan Hagger re credit crunch

Wow!

This is an excellent sermon based on tomorrow's gospel reading. Mad Priest may call it a bog standard sermon but it is by far the most relevant piece of Christian preaching regarding the credit crunch that I have seen or heard as yet!

Mad Priest (Jonathan) I salute you!

And I recommend you dear reader to read and meditate upon it. You might also enjoy a good look around Jonathan's site which manages to be thought provoking, hilarious and even infuriating - sometimes all together!

Daily Star hits a low with its hate mongering face of evil

I know that the tabloids can be nasty. But even I didn't know just how evil they could be - or rather one of them could be - until I popped into a newsagent here in Bideford and saw the front page of today's Daily Star. There was emblazened the headline "BBC puts Muslims before you" - and just for good measure it was accompanied by the picture so loved by anti Muslim hate mongers namely a woman in a burkah giving a V sign.

The accompanying article is about an apprant decision by BBC director general Mark Thompson to discourage Muslim jokes because allegedly Muslims are more sensitive than Christians. Quite frankly I cannot get worked up either way about this decision which may indeed be counterproductive to community relations - and certainly will be if the Daily Star have anything to do with it!

My concern is about the hate agenda of the Daily Star which like its sister paper the Daily Express is owned by the hardcore pornographer Richard Desmond who in the past brought us such delights as the publication Spunk loving sluts, is obsessed with scaremongering about immmigrants and Muslims.

The very headline makes clear a belief that Muslims are different than its readers. Now this might be a relief to self respecting Muslims who do not wish to be associated with those who think that the prime role of newspapers is to act as sexual voyeurs peering into the bedrooms of each and any Big Brother evictee or Z list celebrity. But of course the real reason is that the Daily Star and its Express bedfellow are in the business of dividing people against each other. Desperate to avoid a clash between the bastions of power and those stuck in poverty and powerlessness, they are prepared to use race and religion to set working class people against each other. And we see it at its most pernicious in their efforts to portray Muslims as favoured in order that their moronic readers might see Muslims as those who deserve to be outsiders. The deliberate consequence of this is to create bariers and tensions between working peoples.

The atmosphere of fear that the Daily Star seeks to incite serves to make it difficult for real dialogue to take place between Muslims and other faith communities. When the emphasis from the beginning is on fear and suspicion, there can be no meaningful relationship building. It leads us to a world of "us and them" rather than of "together." It stokes up a future of distrust and increasing polarisation.

Of course this is totally different from the way of Jesus. Express Newspapers hides behind a veneer of Christianity when the reality is that they would have only hatred for the Jesus who would attract their sneers. Why? Because Jesus in his life continually called people in from the margins rather than exiling them there as is the way of Express Newspapers. Jesus dealt with difference in a courteous and respectful manner whilst Express Newspapers treats difference as a reason to retreat to shrill prejudice. Jesus crossed the barriers that separated outsiders from his community whilst Express Newspapers erect great walls to keep at bay those whom they even deny the dignity of difference. Jesus did not bear false witness against those who were other whilst Express Newspaper publications are rooted in the practice of damaging and malicious lies.

So when the Daily Star creates the image of Muslims being separate from the rest of us, they ignore the way of Christ. and when they try to imply that they are standing for Christian values they make Pinnochio seem like a champion of truthfulness. The truth is that Express Newspapers are not merely clearly not a Christian newspaper organisation. The truth is that Express Newspapers is an anti Christian newspaper organisation. Increasingly what they represent is a parody of Gospel which is little other than the vomit of Satan.

Today's frontpage was an attempt to incite anti Muslim hatred. The Daily Star has abandoned any vestige of human decency. Their evil needs to be named and clearly so. Indeed perhaps it will not be long before we have the liturgical ripping up of this hate rag.

Back in the 1930s there were those who made excuses for anti Jewish hate mongering. Their conduct was despicable and brought dreadful consequences. So to is the conduct of a lying rag such as the Daily Star which incites anti Muslim hatred. Their conduct surely needs to be censured so that it becomes clear that this publication is both vile and sick.

Meanwhile, today Express Newspapers has had to pay yet more compensation to those it smeared over the disappearance of four year old Madeleine McCann - and I guess that no newspaper can go lower than wilfully lying about an abducted, possibly murdered child!

Yet maybe Express Newspapers especially in its Daily Star format, can go lower than we have yet imagined.

Meet Britain's new music sensation - R Wayne

Watch! This guy is going to be bigger than the Beatles.

Brief pause in blogging

I am having a brief pause in blogging at present. The reason is that on the Sunday before last I slipped on my way to take a service. I rescued myself from falling but have damaged muscles to the right of my spine. The problem got worse during the past week and at present pains in my arm make even short postings like this difficult. Painkillers are helping but my main hope is that seeing the physiotherapist tomorrow brings progress. Until then postings will be limited.

Monty Python couldn't have invented Sarah Palin - John Cleese

Listen to the grand old man of comedy on why Miachael Palin is not the funniest Palin!



HAT TIP: Bloggerheads

America is a prison - McCain

Well, he said it!




What with Palin as well you would think he's trying to lose!

No blogging until Friday

Tomorrow my family will be travelling down to Redruth to atend the funeral of my father which will take place at 2pm at the Redruth Methodist Church. I do not expect to be back until well into the evening. As a mark of respect I shall not be blogging until Friday.

More Alf Garnett than gospel

As if there were not enough problems on the Stock Exchange, now there comes this. Stock Exchange chaplain Rev Peter Mullen has "come out" with this outrageous suggestion;

'Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan SODOMY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH and their chins with FELLATIO KILLS."

In one swoop a piece of mindless bigotry suggesting the stigmatising of gay people, will have created a barrier to faith for many gay and yes many straight people at the Stock Exchange. Safe sex is a health issue for all people but this sort of nonsense is about treating some people as lesser. As such it is a total misrepresentation of the church and for me immediately brought up pictures of Jews made to wear the Star of David in Nazi Germany.

I am sure that Mr Mullen has many admirable attributes but he would do well to refrain from sounding like a clerical Alf Garnett!

George and Peter drawn to the high life

The media is full of the matter of what Peter Mandelson said or did not say concerning the Prime Minister whilst the two men accidently bumbed into each other at a Greek taverna.

What interests me so much more is that the two men went on to a jolly on the yacht of Russian billionaire, Oleg Dripaska who whilst only 40 has somehow become apparently the tenth richest man in the world. Depriska is currently barred from Russiadue to concerns regardingalleged links to organised crime and the accuracy of his statements to the FBI.

Now Depriska may be innocent but the affair raises questions regarding the infatuation of politicians such as Mandelson and Osborne with ostentatious wealth. Indeed Mandelson said in a previous incarnation as a government minister that was "intensely relaxed" aboput people getting filthy rich.

Indeed I expect the Conservative Party to be on the side of privilege and extreme wealth but surely this is not what the Labour Party was invented for. Indeed if one explores the writings of its founding figures, Labour was opposed to extreme wealth and the power that goes with it whilst there is want all around. Sadly the decline began with Ramsey MacDonald rejoicing that every duches would be wanting to kiss him. Now to paraphrase George Galloway re Brown and Blair, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party represent two cheeks of the same behind. Both parties are wedded to neo liberal economics with its attendant inequalities. Both parties are wedded to nuclear weapons and both took this country into preemptive war only 5 years ago. Surely we need a party that will fight to redistribute wealth and power in favour of those who lack both.

Meanwhile in North Devon we like the rest of the country suffer froma housing crisis caused largely by a lack of social housing. Mr Osborn's party sold much of it off. Mr Mandelson's party has done little to replenish it. Mr Osborne and Mr Mandleson would do well to spend their time with those who have lost as a result of this scandalous failure of policy and imagination. But of course the losers from this lack the gltiz of Russian billionaires.

Wonder of You - A sermon for 21st Sunday after Pentecost based on psalm 19

I guess many of us still have a place in our hearts for the first records that made an impression on us. For me one of those was Elvis Presley's "The wonder of you" - a love song that was to be his last No 1 before his death. I can still hear the chorus;

"I guess I'll never know the reason why you love me as you do
That's the wonder - the wonder of you!."

Well getting on for three thousand years ago, a Psalmist had a strong sense of the wonder of God. In Psalm 19, the first six verses are resplendent with wonder at the beauty and imensity of the cosmos. And I guess we can all feel drawn into that sense of wonder. I think for a moment of the writings of Professor Hawking and experiments at the moment that seek to go back to the moment when the cosmos was fired into action. Certainly beyond this world there is an imensity that knows no bounds concerning which we are learning more yet at the same time realising the paucity of our knowledge.

Now some would say that creation leads us into a wonderment at the world of science. Professor Richard Dawkins who is something of an evangelical atheist would say such a thing. But for others of us, the cosmos is surely no accident against the odds but is the result of a God who has enabled great possibilities to come into play with a sense of purpose. For us the wonder of creation leads to a greater wonder, that of the creator.

But our Psalmist does not limit the witness of God to nature. In the second part of our psalm, he moves the emphasis to God's revelation. Here we find a number of references to Law which is a translation of Torah which are the first five books of our Bible. Now, for many of us the word "law" creates a measure of discomfort. Having witnessed the British prison system a few years ago in my training, I am no longer sure that I can in conscience take a juror's oath. But for Jewish people Torah means something more than the goodies dreamt up by our masters and mistresses in Westminster and administered by people in fancy dress and wigs. Far from it. For them Torah is about teaching and instruction that enables life to be lived abundantly within the realms of God's grace. Perhaps this helps us to escape from a schizophrenic interpretation of scripture that sees the first half as being about Law and the latter half about grace. No, our psalmist sees grace emblazing God's revelation from the very beginning.

And so it is that we are pointed to a wonderful God both by nature and by God's revelation which reaches its fulfilment in Jesus and which we can learn of from the pages of the scriptures. But the wonder does not end there.

For in the last verses of our Psalm we find the Psalmist drawn into relationship with God. He seeks the help of God so that he might live in harmony with God. He knows his own fallibilities and shortcomings so now he calls for help from the God whose imensity does not stop that God from being an aid to each and every one of us - a rock and redeemer says the Psalmist.

Ultimately the Psalmist knows that God is the God of the great expanse of the cosmos. He knows that God is the one who has through Torah shown a path we do well to follow, a path of refreshment. But he also knows that the same God is there for him individually and for us individually.

And believe that we will in a few minutes approach the table where we shall receive tokens of bread and wine. There we shall remember that the God we worship is for each and every one of us. The self revelation of God who is Jesus has shown us at great cost to himself that God is forgiving, loving and accepting of each of us. So with the words of Elvis, we turn to God;

"I guess I'll never know the reason why you love me as you do
That's the wonder - the wonder of you!."

God gave the land to the people - are you listening Mrs Beckett?

The loss of adequate social housing as a result of the Thatcher Government's sale of council housing without replenishing the stock and Labour's failure tocome anywhere near the McMilland Government's record of building social housing along with the absurdly high levels of house prices has created a housing disaster for many people. Often dependent on the the worst type of private landlords, they are the victims of neo liberalism. I wonder if the time has not come to revive the spirit the Liberal Land song. Anyway here it is;


Sound the call for freedom boys, and sound it far and wide,
March along to victory for God is on our side,
While the voice of Nature thunders o'er the rising tide,
'God gave the land to the people!'

Chorus:
The land, the land, 'twas God who made the land,
The land, the land, the ground on which we stand,
Why should we be beggars with the ballot in our hand?
God made the land for the people.

Hark the sound is spreading from the East and from the West,
Why should we work hard and let the landlords take the best?
Make them pay their taxes on the land just like the rest,
The land was meant for the people

Chorus

Clear the way for liberty, the land must all be free,
Liberals will not falter from the fight, tho' stern it be,
'Til the flag we love so well will fly from sea to sea
O'er the land that is free for the people

Chorus

The army now is marching on, the battle to begin.
The standard now is raised on high to face the battle din,
We'll never cease from fighting 'til victory we win,
And the land is free for the people

Chorus


Perhaps new Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett might put this into practice - can't say I'm optimistic given rumours that John Cruddas was offered the post but turned it down after failing to get assurances that a major programme of public sector housing would be able to be built!

Street Pastors

Here in Bideford as with many neighbouring towns we are exploring the possibilities ecumenically of setting up Street Pastors. It seems to offer possibilities of amongst other things connecting with late night revellers given that my preferred option of a mass pouring of alcoholic drinks down the drains seems to be short of widespread public support. Certainly it may enhance a feeling of community.

Anyhow here is a video on Street Pastors;





Anyhow I'd be interested to hear how Street Pastors has helped in other places.

Christmas Cartoon

Not exactly how it was (not that I know how it was) but probably as close as your normal Nativity.


Hat Tip: David Keen

Mandelson returns to Cabinet

It almost makes me consider voting for the Tories - almost!

Anyhow to keep myself from temptation I have torn up my electoral registration form.

This will probably end in tears - the appointment that is!

Bailing out the greedy

An apt set of pictures concerning the bailout of the wasters who have created economic chaos courtesy of Rick.

Certainly the greedy ......... whose specualtions have brought us to this point deserve a whipping rather than a bailout!

Threats against a priest for being a woman

This intimidation of the Reverend Yvonne Hobson at Paul in Cornwall nakes for sad reading.

I hope the perpetrator is caught and dealt with by the legal system as soon as possible. I hope it turns out that this person is not connected with the Christian church but I fear it may be a sign of the bigotry on the subject of the ordination of women that many denominations have had to face.

Send Palin to the White House - you know it makes sense!

Jewel of Medina must be published

The novel by The Jewel of Medina written by American writer Sherry Jones has caused quite a stir in Britain and around the world.The novel is a fictional account of Prophet Muhammad's relationship and marriage with his favourite wife, Aisha. This marriage has been a sensitive issue due to Aisha's youth at the time of their marriage.

I write as one who holds the Prophet of Islam with much respect. To me he is a substantial figure who brought much needed reform to the Arabian Peninsula as well as proclaiming a monotheistic understanding of God. Aisha judging by hadith records grew into a remarkable young woman who could be quite feisty and indeed she even led an army in the Battle of the Camel. From interviews that I have read with the author, she is not unsympathetic to either of the principle characters.

I had not intended to buy this book although if it actually gets published I may have second thoughts. My reason as well as interest in the subject material is a belief in free speech. Religious people cannot demand even with threats a censorship to protect their sensitivities. In a free society our most cherished beliefs must surely be up for discussion. Just as Dan Brown had every right to insinuate a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, however offensive that might be to many Christians, so too does Jones have the right to speculate on the relationship betweeen Muhammad and Aisha.

I prefer such explorations to be carried out with sensitivity but people have a right to come to unsettling conclusions even in the sphere of religion. After all we are in a society in which there are many religious belief systems as well as those who reject religion. Surely there must be debate however hurtful it might be.

Those who claim a right to censor take us on a totalitarian path. This path is in the interests of none. Indeed the furore over this book threatens to unleash the very Islamophobia which the author does not wish. None of us has the right to demand walls of protection around our religious beliefs. To do so would inflame resentments and even increase the problems of racial hatred.

The book whatever its literary merits now needs to be published. Its publication is in the interests of both free speech and positive relations between religions. After all surely people of faith can be united that whatever the offence, God/Allah is able to care for himself/herself.

And I thought the prisons were full

Well apparently the prisons do have some surplus space. At least that is the impression given by the gaoling last week of Father Martin Newell a member of the London Catholic Worker.

His offence was to refuse to pay a fine for with others daubing red paint on the Norwood Military Headquarters. Before being sentenced, father Newell and his fellow defendats knelt in prayer with banners reading "We all have blood on our hands" and "War shall cease all over the earth."

The judge recognised that Father Newell was taking a moral stand but said the law must be held. I suggest that rarely has the law benn displayed to be such an ass. If there was any justice in British law, Father Newell would be serving in the Cabinewt whilst war criminals such as Tony Blair and Jack Straw would be on their way to the Hague.

Arms shows and Irony Corner

This one takes some believing. Clarion events have now purchased 5 arms fairs including the the biennial London arms fair.

What makes this so remarkable is that they are also responsible for the Baby Show and the Spirit of Christmas Fair. I guess there is some logic in organising a an arms show and a baby show. After all the sort of weaponry at their shows is pretty efficient at killing babies as well as adults. As for a firm organising both arms shows and a show that celebrates the season in which the Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem, well that just takes the biscuits.

I have no hesitation in declaring Clarion Events to be at the top of the charts for nauseating hypocrites!

Sarah Palin - McCain cannot be serious!

Watch this interview!




I have a collie that could give better answers than Mrs Palin. If this woman is in a few weeks elected to be a 72 year old's heartbeat from the most powerful position in the world, then the lunatics will truly have taken over the asylum!

As Fraser from Dad's Arny would put it - "We're all doomed!"